
Damask
A linen, cotton, rayon, or silk fabric with a reversible jacquard weave. Damasks are woven on a jacquard loom using predominantly monotone fibers and a combination of weaving techniques most commonly satin and twill variants creating a tone on tone pattern that is produced by the contrast of matte and reflective surfaces. Prior to the invention of the jacquard loom in the early 1800s, damasks were woven by hand and considered a luxury fabric, but the loom's ability to produce bulk yardage allowed for more widespread access to damask fabrics within middle-class households in the 19th Century.